It wasn’t the ideal end to his first PBA conference, yet RJ Abarrientos chose to look at all the lessons instead after Barangay Ginebra lost its payback bid versus TNT in Game 6 of the Season 49 Governors’ Cup Finals on Friday night.
The 25-year-old submitted his best game of the series with 31 points in an attempt to keep the Kings alive and push the title bout to a Game 7 on Sunday in Antipolo – only for the veteran-laden opposition to rally and seal the back-to-back.
“This game is more on learnings, not losing,” he said after their 95-85 defeat at the SMART Araneta Coliseum. “Dadalhin ko ‘to, lalagay ko ‘to sa pocket ko, lalagay ko ‘to sa bag ko. Paghihirapan ko kung ano pa ‘yung kakulangan ko.”
Game 6 saw Abarrientos register his conference-high in points, laying it all on the floor after struggling early in the series that saw him average 5.2 points.
The main reason behind those lowly showings was Jayson Castro, who took him to school right from the jump – so much that the youngster could only concede.
It did take him a while to adjust, but he finally did on Friday night. Abarrientos went off for 18 points in just the second period alone to help his side to a 43-42 halftime lead.
“Wala eh, buhos na talaga. Lahat iwan sa floor, matalo o manalo,” said Abarrientos, who finished with an 11-of-17 clip from the field.
But he could only do so much, with the Tropang Giga relying on their defense again like what they’ve done all conference long. Roger Pogoy admitted that he took it upon himself to guard his fellow FEU Tamaraw in the second half.
It worked. And although he still ended up with a 30-piece, his impact was hardly felt anymore, most especially in crunch time when their foes fought back.
And his tormentor of sorts was involved in TNT’s closing salvo as well, with Castro quarterbacking the offense that enabled the glorious windup – a 12-0 run to end the game and retain their kingship of the Governors’ Cup.
The third overall pick of the recent PBA Draft could only tip his hat to the 36-year-old playmaker, who went on to win PBA Press Corps Finals MVP honors.
“Marami akong natutunan sa experience like kay Kuya Jayson. Sinasabi nya sa’kin, ‘Respetuhin mo ‘ko, ipakita mo ‘yung best mo,’” he said.
The loss hurts, no doubt, but Abarrientos picked up one lesson from this Finals which he believes would make him grow better moving forward.
“I need to be consistent,” he said. “Daming ups and downs ngayong conference. Pero I’m hoping, marami akong natutunan dito. Ite-take ko ito seriously.”
